County officials optimistic about 2012

Jasper County officials are optimistic about 2012 after a year of arguments about property taxes, hiring practices and public unhappiness.

Marty Sauls, County Council vice chairman and Jasper County Chamber of Commerce president, said the county was looking forward to new opportunities.

Those opportunities were outlined by the mayors of Hardeeville and Ridgeland at a recent community breakfast meeting.

Ridgeland’s future

Mayor Joey Malphrus thanked residents for electing him and outlined a brief plan for working on quality of life issues. Malphrus said he wanted to work on refurbishing Turpin Park and other parks in the town.

He also touched on new businesses coming into Ridgeland, welcoming Daniel Defense, Be Green, McDonald’s and the BoBops gas station, all of whom have moved into the town within the last year.

Malphrus also stated his appreciation for the county in extending the latest fire contracts, noting that Ridgeland Chief John Mingledorff hired three firefighters with that money and it also helped his training and equipment budget. Richard Woods, police chief, was also recognized for his department’s work, the donation of a bus to the Boys and Girls Club and recent support during the MLK parade.

Hardeeville’s support

Hardeeville Mayor Bronco Bostick thanked everyone for supporting the city and the county, and while he talked about the prospect of having a casino/resort within his city limits, Bostick had other reasons to be happy with his community.

“We are one of the top five fastest-growing cities in South Carolina and the second fastest-growing city in the Lowcountry,” Bostick said.

Hardeeville has about 4,000 residents and things have changed a lot in the last 10 years. In 2001, there were five new home permits annually. In 2011, there were five new home permits per week.

That’s a drastic change and one that looks to continue for the foreseeable future, with not only a potential casino and resort, but also the Gateway Crossing and RiverPort projects and the potential for at least one new shopping center within the city’s limits. A major travel plaza is also planned for Exit 5. Bostick is also looking at the potential for new businesses and for new opportunities for Hardeeville’s residents.

Hardeeville is still looking at an expansion of roughly 25,000 residents during the next few years with all of the new development, doubling the population in Jasper County in that one area alone at a much faster rate than state and national averages.